Apparatus for making wire wheels



March 14, w KRANZ r AL APPARATUS FOR MAKING WIRE WHEELS Filed March 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOIU Harry Hhrarp, (be fit. .ih'oldm A] /m raid Z U5 er ATTORN 5.

Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT Pris.

HARRY W. KRANZ, CHARLES S. HOLDEN, HAROLD It. UBEB, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO,

ASSIGNORS-TO THE CLEVELAND WELDING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A COR- POBATION OF OHIO APPARATUS F R MAKING WIRE WHEELS Application filed March 18, 1931.

The present invention, relating as indicated to an apparatus for making wire wheels, pertalns more particularly to an improved construction of a mechanism for accomplishing the method of connecting wire spokes to the corresponding wheel parts. The particular process referred to constitutes the subject matter of our co-pending application, Serial No. 40 1,6534, filed November 41, 1929.

, The general object and nature of our invention is to provide an apparatus which will efficiently and rapidly accomplish the assembly of wire wheels having an initial tension in their spokes produced by the action of hot riveting the spoke ends to the wheel rim or hub. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section view of an apparatus embodying the spoke-gripping arms and upsetting hammer for riveting the inner ends of the spokes to the corresponding wheel part; Fig. 2 is a vertical section view of an apparatus similar to that in Fig. 1, but showing the use of electric heating means for heating the spoke ends incidentally to such riveting operation; Fig. 3 is a vertical section View of an apparatus for electrically heating and upsetting the outer ends of the spokes; Fig. 4: is a plan view of an apparatus for riveting the outer ends of the spokes to the corresponding-wheel part;

5 is a front section View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4. Referring especially to Fig. 5, the base plate has projecting upwardly therefrom the spindle 11, upon which is mounted the hub element 12 of the wheel. The spider 13, coaxially mounted with the spindle 11, has inwardly projecting arms 14 which engage Serial No. 523,490.

the hub element 12 by means of pins 15 eX- tending through holes 16 in the hub element. Said spider member 13 has formed therein apertures 17 to permit the spokes 18 and 19 to extend from the hub element 12 to the rim 20. Said spider member 13 has extending outwardly therefrom arms 21 which have removably attached thereto clamps 22 by means of bolt 23 for holdin said rim element in proper relation with the hub element 12. Complementary spoke and rim securing element 2 1 has its ends 25 so formed as to extend downwardly and engage spoke elements 18 and 19 as well as the inner surface 26 of rim element 20 during the riveting process. Said complementary element 24 has formed therein a spindle receiving aperture 27 which engages the end 28 of the spindle 11 when such complementary element 24 is in operating position. The spoke and rim securing element 2 1 is mounted on securing arm 29 and is adapted to be axially displaced along said arm to the posi tion shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. and when in such dotted line position the completed wheel, after the completion of the riveting process, may be readily removed from its seat on the spindle and spider elements. An air hammer 30, or other suitable reciprocating impact means is supported by the flexible member 31 so that such hammer or means may be brought to the proper riveting position against the outer surface of the wheel.

In Fig.1 is shown an apparatus especially adapted to receive the inner ends of the spoke elements 19 at their juncture with the hub element 12. In this apparatus the hub element 12 is rotatably mounted on the spindle 32. The spider 33 is coaxially mounted with said spindle 32 and has projecting therefrom arms 34 which carry rim securing clan ps 35 and bolts 36 for securing the rim 20 in its prop-er relation to the hub element 12. Spoke gripping arms 37 are mounted on support 38 and keyed to shaft 39, shaft 39 being adapted to rotate in supporting member 38. Gripping arms 37 have integrally formed therewith a downwardly extending arm 4.0, which is in turn coupled by means of link 41 and rod 42 to air cylinder 48 Said spoke 'pping members 37 are So'formed that w ll an air or other suitable ressure meansis introduced against the left we at piston 44 said grippingarms 37 secuerly-hold spokemembers 19 in the position shown in Fig. 1 while the riveting process isgqrried An air hammer 45 or other impact means is mounted upon, and he d in position, by sup arm 46. In ig. 2 is shown an apparatus for rivetinner end 47 of hub element 120! the wheel.

o mm like manner as escribed in g able riveting means, such as air g 45', are also employed in this apjasrhereinbefore described. Electric 485ml Q'areeennected to contact ele- 50 landmine gripping elements 37 n the spoke gripping eleand m'sileting mel ans are in o ration as": 01min ig. 2, an eectric mt is permitted' to flow from one electric ns s e st e'e ningsai can 5 to W'the riveting process, A' further of heatingthisspoke is to causesuch it has-been properly riveted and eooled," to have contained don't-able mount 0:! initial tension. H'canreadily be seen from a careful exof Figs. 1 and 2 that the processes in mnneetion with each figure may heeniployed aiternatiyely in either arra ment, sof'that the spoke may be riveted ot .v-qtelther its inner or outer end.

8 thehub'element 12 is again suitable retaining meaiils, the f" int isarrangm t, owever, aving been riveted at their inner ends to the 111;! elgmexat, the outer 01L]! ofhthe spokes an 1 extending" t roug openings 1* forms 2215i!!! 20. Saidbrim 2g is backedd ",1 in 'tiony eanrim Said p ke and rim member 52, which serves the double 1 A of securing the rim in position and I 'pping the spokes 18 and eentto mp, has connected therelwnsa 'The-thrust bar 54, in this particular form of apparatus lag-the inner ends of the spokes '18 to the as an upsetting element b pressing ary spoke bination of a spindle secured to a base plate V tuated in guiding block 55 and forced against the spoke ends by means of toggle elements 58, said toggle elements 58 being f in turn actuated by cross-bar 59 and recipror V aafingnelement 60, whichis preferably the end ofa piston operated by air or hydraulic v f It will be seen fromliahiitexaminationpi orego' a paratus t a e lnserte d n t e wheel, its jheated before riveting. The pui'po' of 6 health? thespokesas hereinbefore' explainegf Is to acilitate the riveting process and, addithmgwhen such riveting process is eqmpleted and the spoke permitted to 0001, such spoke will have the desired amount of initial tension necessary to sound wire wheel eon- 3* Othermodeso a plym' gt eprlncipe' our invention ma employs instead obit the one explain change bein regards the means and the ste ierein 7 closed, provided those statedy an of the" i following claims or their equiw em loye *1."

point ontiilnd e therefore particularly distinctly claim as our invention:

1 In a wheel makin apparatus, the oom'- g bination of, a spindle or securing the hat 7 of thewheel, with a spider mounted q 1y therewith and ad ted-to secure the rim of said wheel, comp ementary s e and rim seem-in means movable axia y of said spindle, an means for upsetting the each of said es.

2. In a wheel making apparatus, the con bination of a spindle for securing the hub of the wheel, with a spider mounted coaxial- 1y therewith and ada d tosecure in rape! v relation the risk and dub of said wheegiom I! p ementary s e an rim seem-in 5 adapted to be axially displaced alo ng a curing arm, and reciprocating impact means for upsetting the ends of said spoke, said L upsetting means mounted on a flexihle m m pension member.

8. In a wheel makin apparatus, the oombination of a spindle rotatably securin thehub of such wheel, with a spider mom a 1 coaxially therewith and ada ted to secure i therimandhubofsaidweelinp relation to each other, a'base plate mowy i mounted on a supporting-arm, complementand rim receiving flanges adapted for-axial displacement along said support in ingarm, reciprocating impact means for upsetting the ends of said spokes, and a liar ible supporting member adapted to hold i said upsetting means inxproper relation to the'wheeL- r n 4. In a wheel making apparatus, the cm and adapted to rotatably secure the hub'of the wheel, with a spider mounted ceaxially therewith and adapted to removably secure the hub and rim of said wheel in proper reand means for upsetting the ends of said lation to each other, spoke gripping arms, spokes.

fluid-operated means for actuating said spoke gripping arms, a reci rocating impact means for upsetting the en s of said spokes, and a bracket arm for holding said upsetting means.

5. In a wheel making apparatus, the combination of a spindle secured to a bed plate and adapted to rotatably secure the hub of the wheel, with a spider mounted coaxially therewith and adapted to removably secure the hub and rim of said wheel, s oke griping arms, fluid-operated means or actuatmg said gripping arms and a reciprocating impact means for upsetting the ends of said spokes.

6. In a wheel making apparatus, the combination of a spindle adapted to rotatably secure the hub of the wheel, with a spider mounted coaxially therewith and adapted to removably secure the rim and hub of said wheel, spoke gripping arms, a piston for actuating said gripping arms, reci rocating impact means for upsetting the en s of said spokes, a bracket arm for supporting said upsetting means, and a plurality of electrical leads adapted to contact with portions of the spoke near its end and adapted to heat such spoke ends during the upsetting operation.

7. Ina wheel making apparatus, the combination of a spoke and rim securing means, an electric lead connected to said securing means, a thrust bar adapted to upset the ends of the spoke, a guiding block for said thrust bar, an electric lead connected to said thrust bar, a toggle member adapted to actu ate said thrust bar, and means for actuating said toggle member.

8. In a wheel making apparatus, the combination of a spoke and rim securing means, an electric lead connected to said securing means, a thrust bar adapted to upset the ends of the spoke, a guiding block for said thrust bar, an electric lead connected to said thrust bar, insulating means separating said 1 guiding block from the body of'tlie apparatus, a toggle member adapted to actuate said thrust bar, and means for actuating said toggle member. a

9.: In a wheel making apparatus, the combination of a base plate, a spindle projecting upwardly therefrom, a spider mounted on said base plate and rotatable about said spindle, and means movable axially of said spindle into engagement with the spokes of a a wheel mounted on said spider.

10. In a wheel making apparatus, the combination of a base plate, a spindle projecting upwardly therefrom, a spider mounted on said base plate and rotatable about said spindle, means movable axially of said spindle into engagement with the spokes of a wheel mounted on said spider,

Signed by 1931.

us this 16th day of March,

HARRY W. KRANZ. CHARLES S. HOLDEN. HAROLD R. UBER. 

